Vent-bung



O. ZWIETUSOH.

Vent-Bung.-

No. 225,906 Patented Mar. 23, 1880;

Inventor.

mamas. PHOYO-LITNOGRAPHER. WA N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO ZWIETUSGH, OF MILWAUKEE, WISOON SIN.

VENT-BUNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,906, dated March23, 1880.

Application filed January 2, 1880.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO ZWIETUSGH, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bungs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a bun g or vent for caskscontaining fermenting liquors which shall allow the gas that isgenerated within said casks to escape without exposing the liquid to theatmospheric air.

The accompanying drawing shows a vertical central section of my bung.

A is a hollow body or shell for containing water or other liquid, whichis made tapering at its lower end to tit the bung-hole of a cask.

The top of the shell A is open and the bottom closed, except at itscenter, where it is pro vided with a hole, into which a tube, B, isinserted, thus forming the annular chamber 0. The tube B is of suchlength as to extend nearly, though not quite, to the upper edge of theshell A.

D D are openings in the shell A near its upper edge, for the escape ofgas.

E is a cover or cap for the shell A, and it is provided at its centerwith a downwardly-projecting tubular extension or sleeve, F, which is ofsuch length as to reach nearly, but not quite, to th bottom of the shellwhen the cap is placed in position. The inside diameter of the sleeve Fis somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the tube B, so that aspace may intervene between them for the passage of gas.

The sleeve F is made-tapering, and, if desired, the cover and sleeve maybe cast in one piece, as also may the shell A and tube B.

The operation of the bung is as follows: The cover E is removed and thetapering end of the shell A inserted tightly into the bung-hole ofthecash containing the liquid, and the chamber 0 filled with water up tothe openings D D. In freezing temperatures diluted alcohol is takeninstead of water. The cover 0 is then replaced, and this causes thesleeve F to pass over and surround the tube B, as shown, whereby adouble water-column is formed. When gas has accumulated in the cask itpasses up through the pipe B, then down the space and through thewater-column in the sleeve F, then under the edge of said sleeve, andthence upward through the exterior water-column in the chamber 0,escaping through the openings D D.

The application of this bung to casks prevents the admission ofatmospheric air to the resting or fermenting liquid, and hence preventsthe liquid from becoming foul or sour. It also allows the liquid toferment under a light pressure, or, if fermentation is over, prevents itfrom entering a state of refermentation, which often occurs if theliquid is closed tightly in casks too early without a relief. It alsoprevents changes of pressure on the fermenting liquors, such as areoften caused by the variation of the barometer.

This bung is of great value to beer in restiug-casks, for it rapidlypromotes the clarifying of the beer and the settling of the yeast.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi Theshell A, made tapering at its lower end and provided with openings Dnear its upper edge, and also with the upwardly-projecting central tube,B, opening through the bottom of said shell and terminating a shortdistance below the upper edge thereof, in combination with the cap E,provided with the central downwardly-projecting sleeve, F, said sleevehaving an interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of thetube B, and being of such length as to extend, when the cap is placed inposition,nearly to the bottom of the shell A, all substantially as shownand described, for the purpose set forth.

, OTTO ZWIETUSGH. Witnesses JNo. G. Hmson,

EDW. 0. ZWIETUSCH.

